Feathering paddle-wheel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. E. 8v H. A. PIRRUNG. PEATHERING PADDLE WHEEL.

No; 464,520. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

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P. E. 82; H. A. PIRRUNG'.

FEATHERING PADDLE WHEEL.

No. 464,520. Patented Dec 8, 1891.

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NITE TATES ATENT rrrcn.

FRANK E. PIRRUN G AND HUBERT A. PIRRUNG, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

FEATHERING PADDLE-WHE-EL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,520, dated December 8, 1891.

I Applicatinn filed January 15 1891. Serial No. 377,827. (No model.)

tion.

Our invention relates to improvements in feathering paddle-wheels for steamboats, its object being to combine with an improved construction of wheel a firm support for the end of the paddle-wheel shaft and self-lubricating devices for the various bearings; and to this end it consists in forming a wheel with the spokes turned inward from each end and joined to a common hub in the center of the wheel, by which means a common firm support is furnished for all parts of the wheel and extended journal-bearings are secured for the shaft at each end of the hub,the bearing for the end of the shaft being hung from the stationary shaft of the feathering-wheel and standingin the space between bent spokes of the two wheels, and,further, in surrounding the hubs of the paddle and idler wheels with oil-tanks having feed-pipes connecting the same to the various bearings.

Our invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a crosssection of our improved paddle-wheel,looking toward the idler or feathering Wheel and showing the connections between the periphery of the idler and the paddles of the paddle-wheel. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, showingthe arrangement of oil-reservoirs and the feeding-pipes; and Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the pipes, showing the closing-valve in the outlet of the same.

In the drawings, 2 and 4represent the supports for the shafts of the paddle and feathering wheels; 6, the drive-shaft of the paddle, turning in the bearing-box 8, secured to the support 2, and the box 10, supported by means of the depending bar or hanger 12, rigidly connected to the stationary shaft 14 of the idler 16. This shaft is secured to the support 4: and is parallel but eccentric with the shaft 6. The paddle-wheel 18 is provided with the paddlesBO, arranged between the ends of the cured to the common hub 24: at the center of the wheel, which stands between the bearingboxes 8 and 10. It will thus be seen that the wheel is firmly braced and secured together and long bearings furnished at either end for the driving-shaft I The idler or feathering wheel is of the same diameter as the paddle-wheel, and their shafts are preferably arranged in the same vertical plane. The periphery of the idler is fitted with bearing-boxes 26, equal in number and in distance apart to the paddles. Journaled in these boxes are the pivots of the bars or arms 28, which are rigidly connected at their outer end to the paddles 20, with the planes of the paddles substantially vertical and parallel with each other, the paddles having their gudgeons 3O journaled in suitable bearings upon the peripheries of the ends of the paddle-wheel. In the construction shown the bars 28 are at all times in a vertical position and parallel with the planes of the paddles, although it is evident that their positions may be varied so long as the shafts 6 and 14 are in parallel, but eccentric with each other. It will thus be seen that as the shaft 6 is rotated, carrying the paddle-wheel with it, the bars 28 serve as pitmen to cause the idler or feathering wheel 16 to rotate synchronously, and by means of the connection between the bars and the paddles the latter are caused to turn in their bearings and to maintain at all times the same vertical position. The object of the connecting-bar 12 is to furnish a support for the inner end of the shaft 6, it being thus practically supported as firmly as though carried through to the opposite support.

In order to furnish means for lubricating the bearings, we arrange around the hubs 24: and 15 of the paddle and feathering wheels oil receptacles or reservoirs 32 and 34, in which may be stored a sufficient quantity of oil for lubricating the bearings for any desired period. An opening 36 leads through the hub 24, connecting the reservoir 32 with a groove 38 in the shaft 6, by means of which the oil is carried into contact with the bearing-surfaces of the journals of the shaft, a similar opening 40 connecting the reservoir 54: with a groove 4-2 in the shaft 14. The hearings on the peripheries on the paddle and feathering Wheels, in which are journaled the pivots of the arms 28 and the gudgeons of the paddles 20, may also be connected with the reservoirs by means of pipes or tubes 4i and a6, through which the oil is conducted to the bearingsurfaces. These pipes may be fitted at their outlets with self -closing valves 4:8, having seats in the tubes, the valves beingkept closed by the bearing-contact of their stems 52 upon the gudgeons, the gudgeons being each provided with a depression or groove 54: on one side, into which the valve-stem drops with each rotation of the wheel, thus opening the valve and allowing a small quantity of oil to flow out of the pipe. Any other preferred means may, however, be employed to control the flow of the oil from the pipes to the bearings.

The paddle-Wheel is preferably provided with guards 56, extending beyond the outer edge of the paddles, so as to protect them from injury from obstructions in the water or on the bed of the stream.

Ive claim- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of the paddle-wheel having a central hub of less length than the wheel, inturned spokes connecting said hub with the rims of the wheel, a driving-shaft rigidly secured in said paddle\vheel hub, an idler or feathering wheel eccentric with and equal in diameter to thepaddle-wheel, having its hub outside the plane of the wheel, a fixed bearing-shaft for said hub, an inwardly-extending bearin 10 for the end of the drivingshaft, carried by hanger 12, extending down from said fixed shaft, and bars pivotally connected to the rim of the feathering-wheel and rigidly connected to the paddles of the paddle-wheel,

' substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

end projecting beyond the end of the hub, a feat-hering-wheel, a stationary shaft pro eeting beyond the end of its hub and ad acent to the end of the pa ldle-wheel, upon Wh1ch said idler-wheel is journaled, a hanger 12 upon the end of said shaft, an inwardly-extending bearing 10, carried by said hanger, and a drive-sl'laft for said paddle-wheel, journaled in said bearing, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination, with the hubs of the paddle and idler wh eels, of oil-reservoirs surrounding said hubs, and conduits connecting said reservoirs with the bearings of said Wheels and with the bearings of the paddles and their arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The combination, with the paddle-wheel having its outer end projecting beyond the end of itshub, a driving-shaft secured in said hub and projectingbeyond the same, an idlerwheel of equaldiameter and eccentric with the paddle-wheel adjacent to its outer end and having its rim extending beyond the end of its hub, a stationary journal-shaft for said idler-wheel, a journal-box for the drivingshaft, carried by said stationary shaft, oil-reservoirs upon the hubs of said wheels, and conduits connecting reservoirs with the bearin gs of said wheels, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of the paddle-wheel, its drivingshaft, the featheringwheel, its stationary shaft, and an inwardly-extending bearing 10, carried by a hanger dependingfrom the statioi1aryshaft,oifset therefrom, and supporting the journalof the driving-shaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 5th day of December, 1890.

FRANK E. IIRRUNG. IIUBERT A. PIRRUNG. In presence of T. I). MERWIN, A. MAE Wnnorr. 

